Texas lawmakers committed to better health coverage for pregnant and postpartum people in the 2023 legislative session. It’s one way they’re tackling the state’s maternal health crisis.
House Bill 12, authored by Rep. Toni Rose, extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to 12 months. It's currently awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature, and if signed into law, would go into effect Sept. 1. Advocates and the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) have said for years that a longer coverage window will help address high maternal death rates.
“I feel like this is one of my most fulfilling pieces of legislation, because it saves lives,” Rose said. “I’m very honored to get it to the governor’s desk.”
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